Which Finish Is Best for Your Kitchen Appliances?
Find out when to choose integrated, stainless steel, black, white and coloured finishes for your kitchen appliances
Having trouble deciding which finish your kitchen appliances should be? In the past, it often seemed as though stainless steel was the only option available, but as a good interior designer or kitchen expert will tell you, there are many available finishes, all with their own pros and cons. To help you make the right choice and ensure your kitchen appliances complement your cabinetry, floors, lighting and more, here are the top five most popular finishes and when you should use them.
When your home is ultra-modern
Crisp metallic finishes are often associated with modern and even futuristic spaces, and for a cutting-edge minimalist kitchen, there are few better options for achieving such a clean, streamlined aesthetic. In this case, select all your other metals (faucet, handles, furniture) in similar stainless-steel tones to match your appliance finish and keep the whole design as sleek as possible.
Note: Polished metal finishes look brighter but will show fingerprints more. If you want that polished shine, just be prepared for a little more upkeep to maintain the spotless brilliance. Some stainless steel appliances are available in brushed finishes, which offers the same metallic hue with a matt finish.
Crisp metallic finishes are often associated with modern and even futuristic spaces, and for a cutting-edge minimalist kitchen, there are few better options for achieving such a clean, streamlined aesthetic. In this case, select all your other metals (faucet, handles, furniture) in similar stainless-steel tones to match your appliance finish and keep the whole design as sleek as possible.
Note: Polished metal finishes look brighter but will show fingerprints more. If you want that polished shine, just be prepared for a little more upkeep to maintain the spotless brilliance. Some stainless steel appliances are available in brushed finishes, which offers the same metallic hue with a matt finish.
When your cabinets have a timber finish
Think only glossy white cabinets work with cool steel? Think again. Wood and metal are quite opposite, but this contrast makes them work beautifully together. In a kitchen with lots of timber-look cabinetry, stainless steel appliances give a visual break, and they help bring out the richness of the wood’s organic patterning.
This is another case where including a similar metallic finish elsewhere, such as in the cabinetry handles, sink and tapware, will help keep the look of the whole kitchen cohesive.
Think only glossy white cabinets work with cool steel? Think again. Wood and metal are quite opposite, but this contrast makes them work beautifully together. In a kitchen with lots of timber-look cabinetry, stainless steel appliances give a visual break, and they help bring out the richness of the wood’s organic patterning.
This is another case where including a similar metallic finish elsewhere, such as in the cabinetry handles, sink and tapware, will help keep the look of the whole kitchen cohesive.
When you’ve got the blues
Bored with neutral cabinetry? Bold blue is a great cabinetry colour choice for those who want a little drama while remaining semi-neutral, and stainless steel is an excellent complement to this tried-and-true hue. As a mid-tone, stainless steel can often appear more neutral than stark white or black, so it shouldn’t look harsh against even the boldest colours.
Bored with neutral cabinetry? Bold blue is a great cabinetry colour choice for those who want a little drama while remaining semi-neutral, and stainless steel is an excellent complement to this tried-and-true hue. As a mid-tone, stainless steel can often appear more neutral than stark white or black, so it shouldn’t look harsh against even the boldest colours.
When you covet a transitional style
Transitional kitchen style – halfway between traditional and contemporary – is a popular aesthetic, and it often sticks to a palette of white, grey, metallics and the previously mentioned timber finishes.
Transitional kitchen style – halfway between traditional and contemporary – is a popular aesthetic, and it often sticks to a palette of white, grey, metallics and the previously mentioned timber finishes.
Here, the interest often comes from mixing different neutrals and textures, such as combining timber finishes and white cabinetry, so feel free to contrast your steely appliances with warmer metals including brass or bronze.
Brushed brass is an especially strong choice to pair with stainless steel because it has a subtle warmth that doesn’t contrast the steel so obviously.
Bring in lots of texture – with rattan seats and placemats, for example – and you’ll have a rich, subtly mix-matched palette.
Brushed brass is an especially strong choice to pair with stainless steel because it has a subtle warmth that doesn’t contrast the steel so obviously.
Bring in lots of texture – with rattan seats and placemats, for example – and you’ll have a rich, subtly mix-matched palette.
When Should I Choose Black Kitchen Appliances?
Black, the absence of any actual hue, is simultaneously a neutral colour and a bold one, due to being so dark and dramatic. For this reason, it can be a risky or safe choice for appliances, depending on what you’re pairing it with. Here’s when to choose it.
Black, the absence of any actual hue, is simultaneously a neutral colour and a bold one, due to being so dark and dramatic. For this reason, it can be a risky or safe choice for appliances, depending on what you’re pairing it with. Here’s when to choose it.
When you love the drama of black and white
Black and white is a classic colour scheme for a reason. This combination is vivid and dramatic, and it avoids potential pitfalls when trendy colours might go out of vogue a few years down the road.
Black appliances paired with white cabinetry achieve this look with just enough black to be bold but not overbearing. Warning: Your appliances should be spread out enough so that the look isn’t too heavy or lopsided. In a compact kitchen without much cabinetry, this look can be extra risky, so designer beware.
Alternatively, you could cluster black appliances along the back wall of your kitchen and let them fade into the background, then contrast this with a pop of white in the form of a crisp kitchen island.
Black and white is a classic colour scheme for a reason. This combination is vivid and dramatic, and it avoids potential pitfalls when trendy colours might go out of vogue a few years down the road.
Black appliances paired with white cabinetry achieve this look with just enough black to be bold but not overbearing. Warning: Your appliances should be spread out enough so that the look isn’t too heavy or lopsided. In a compact kitchen without much cabinetry, this look can be extra risky, so designer beware.
Alternatively, you could cluster black appliances along the back wall of your kitchen and let them fade into the background, then contrast this with a pop of white in the form of a crisp kitchen island.
When your cabinetry is very dark
While black appliances can be bold punctuation marks against white joinery, though with dark painted or espresso-hued wood cabinetry, they blend in for a much subtler effect. Dark cabinets will always visually shrink a space to some degree, but pairing them with non-contrasting black appliances can help minimise this shrinking effect, as will some clever inclusions of white and wood to create long lines.
While black appliances can be bold punctuation marks against white joinery, though with dark painted or espresso-hued wood cabinetry, they blend in for a much subtler effect. Dark cabinets will always visually shrink a space to some degree, but pairing them with non-contrasting black appliances can help minimise this shrinking effect, as will some clever inclusions of white and wood to create long lines.
When your cabinetry is a moody grey
Your cabinets don’t need to be equally dark to work smoothly with black appliances. Black will also complement a rich smoky grey or charcoal. Top off the cabinetry with a dark stone benchtop and you’ll have a deeply sophisticated palette. Just be sure to include some under-cabinet LEDs to make up for all the light being absorbed by the surfaces.
Your cabinets don’t need to be equally dark to work smoothly with black appliances. Black will also complement a rich smoky grey or charcoal. Top off the cabinetry with a dark stone benchtop and you’ll have a deeply sophisticated palette. Just be sure to include some under-cabinet LEDs to make up for all the light being absorbed by the surfaces.
When your kitchen is spacious
If your kitchen is large and well-lit (lucky you!), the best design move may actually be to break up your long wall planes a bit with some dark appliances to keep the space from feeling too vast. A few pepperings of black, or appliances such as these that combine black and steel, will bring in the walls a little and make the space feel more intimate and relaxed.
If your kitchen is large and well-lit (lucky you!), the best design move may actually be to break up your long wall planes a bit with some dark appliances to keep the space from feeling too vast. A few pepperings of black, or appliances such as these that combine black and steel, will bring in the walls a little and make the space feel more intimate and relaxed.
When Should I Choose Integrated Kitchen Appliances?
Integrated kitchen appliances are designed to accommodate a custom door or drawer front that matches your surrounding cabinetry, rather than having their own readymade finish specified by the manufacturer. This essentially camouflages the appliances and lets them blend in with the rest of your cabinetry.
Integrated kitchen appliances are designed to accommodate a custom door or drawer front that matches your surrounding cabinetry, rather than having their own readymade finish specified by the manufacturer. This essentially camouflages the appliances and lets them blend in with the rest of your cabinetry.
Besides letting you match the cabinet material, this also allows you to match the door profile (such as Shaker style) and even the hardware for total consistency.
You can integrate multiple appliances or just ones in particular areas. Fridges are a popular choice to integrate as they are generally very tall, wide and visually dominating.
This approach, while almost always more of an investment than standard appliances, can solve lots of little design dilemmas, such as the following.
Browse beautiful Australian kitchens with Shaker-style cabinets
You can integrate multiple appliances or just ones in particular areas. Fridges are a popular choice to integrate as they are generally very tall, wide and visually dominating.
This approach, while almost always more of an investment than standard appliances, can solve lots of little design dilemmas, such as the following.
Browse beautiful Australian kitchens with Shaker-style cabinets
When your kitchen is super compact
In very small kitchens, such as those often found in apartments and terraces, there can sometimes be very little actual cabinetry, with much of the visual real estate being taken up by the fridge, microwave, oven, range hood and possibly a dishwasher. This can leave the kitchen looking busy or lopsided, especially if the appliances are crowded to one end.
Integrated appliances (especially a fridge) help create a much more streamlined look, which makes the kitchen seem much larger. And if you have an open-plan kitchen that flows into your living or dining area, you can match the integrated appliances in the kitchen with the cabinetry in the living or dining areas for full design cohesion.
In very small kitchens, such as those often found in apartments and terraces, there can sometimes be very little actual cabinetry, with much of the visual real estate being taken up by the fridge, microwave, oven, range hood and possibly a dishwasher. This can leave the kitchen looking busy or lopsided, especially if the appliances are crowded to one end.
Integrated appliances (especially a fridge) help create a much more streamlined look, which makes the kitchen seem much larger. And if you have an open-plan kitchen that flows into your living or dining area, you can match the integrated appliances in the kitchen with the cabinetry in the living or dining areas for full design cohesion.
When you love timber, timber and more timber
If you love the look of all-wood, why let your appliances break up this earthy elegance? With integrated appliances, you can keep your contemporary conveniences hidden from sight, and enjoy your natural vibe uninterrupted.
If you love the look of all-wood, why let your appliances break up this earthy elegance? With integrated appliances, you can keep your contemporary conveniences hidden from sight, and enjoy your natural vibe uninterrupted.
When Should I Choose White Kitchen Appliances?
White appliances are less common in designer kitchens, perhaps because the classic white fridge many of us grew up with seems so ordinary today. However, there are many situations where underrated white deserves a little consideration. Here are a few.
White appliances are less common in designer kitchens, perhaps because the classic white fridge many of us grew up with seems so ordinary today. However, there are many situations where underrated white deserves a little consideration. Here are a few.
When your cabinetry is a pale tone
Kitchens can be light and breezy without the cabinetry being strictly white. Pale neutrals, a bit darker than off-white, make for a welcoming atmosphere, and white appliances help set off their subtle undertones.
Note: For white refrigerators, you can easily notice the difference in texture and colour between different models. For a more elegant look, I recommend choosing a quality white fridge with a flat surface that can be wiped easily, rather than one with a more textured white finish that can catch grime more easily. Fingerprints may show a bit more in the short term, but over time, the appliances will be easier to keep looking fresh.
Kitchens can be light and breezy without the cabinetry being strictly white. Pale neutrals, a bit darker than off-white, make for a welcoming atmosphere, and white appliances help set off their subtle undertones.
Note: For white refrigerators, you can easily notice the difference in texture and colour between different models. For a more elegant look, I recommend choosing a quality white fridge with a flat surface that can be wiped easily, rather than one with a more textured white finish that can catch grime more easily. Fingerprints may show a bit more in the short term, but over time, the appliances will be easier to keep looking fresh.
When your ceiling is dark
Timber beams on the ceiling bring a lot of cottage appeal, whether your kitchen is actually in a rustic farmhouse or an urban setting. However, a dark ceiling such as this can weigh down your space, which is where white appliances come to the rescue. Keeping everything along the walls bright and airy will let your rich, dark ceiling be a feature without your kitchen feeling like a cave.
This is also a good approach if your kitchen has no windows or if it’s a bit darker than you’re comfortable with.
Timber beams on the ceiling bring a lot of cottage appeal, whether your kitchen is actually in a rustic farmhouse or an urban setting. However, a dark ceiling such as this can weigh down your space, which is where white appliances come to the rescue. Keeping everything along the walls bright and airy will let your rich, dark ceiling be a feature without your kitchen feeling like a cave.
This is also a good approach if your kitchen has no windows or if it’s a bit darker than you’re comfortable with.
When you want to mix and match
Sure, a brass or copper-hued range hood makes a statement, but are you really going to select all your other appliances to match? When integrated appliances aren’t an option, try selecting white appliances instead so they blend into your cabinets, letting other appliances in your kitchen be the breakout stars in more daring materials (the oven and range hood, for example, in the case of this kitchen).
Sure, a brass or copper-hued range hood makes a statement, but are you really going to select all your other appliances to match? When integrated appliances aren’t an option, try selecting white appliances instead so they blend into your cabinets, letting other appliances in your kitchen be the breakout stars in more daring materials (the oven and range hood, for example, in the case of this kitchen).
When you have light benchtops
Cabinetry isn’t the only material your appliances need to coordinate with. When you have light benchtops, in, say, a luxe marble or hardy quartz, light appliances can bring the tones from these horizontal surfaces to your vertical surfaces, so your colour scheme feels more tied together.
Notice here how the benchtops pick up on the white of the glossy fridge, and also chime with the grey cabinetry (via the rich stone veining), with silvery handles added to tie the latter two to each other. All the colours are repeated somewhere for a truly cohesive palette.
Cabinetry isn’t the only material your appliances need to coordinate with. When you have light benchtops, in, say, a luxe marble or hardy quartz, light appliances can bring the tones from these horizontal surfaces to your vertical surfaces, so your colour scheme feels more tied together.
Notice here how the benchtops pick up on the white of the glossy fridge, and also chime with the grey cabinetry (via the rich stone veining), with silvery handles added to tie the latter two to each other. All the colours are repeated somewhere for a truly cohesive palette.
When Should I Choose Colourful Kitchen Appliances?
So far we’ve mostly looked at appliances that can blend into your colour palette, but sometimes appliances can define your palette itself. If you love the idea of true statement appliances, or you just think your kitchen needs a special touch, maybe you should consider colourful finishes. There are a few situations when coloured appliances work well.
So far we’ve mostly looked at appliances that can blend into your colour palette, but sometimes appliances can define your palette itself. If you love the idea of true statement appliances, or you just think your kitchen needs a special touch, maybe you should consider colourful finishes. There are a few situations when coloured appliances work well.
When you love retro diner charm
The pastel hues and checkerboard floors of the old milkshake shack don’t have to stay in the past. They’ll always look fresh and fun in a home kitchen. Pair a pale blue retro fridge with classic diner-inspired decor, contemporary furnishings or a blend of both to bring your own unique retro twist to life.
The pastel hues and checkerboard floors of the old milkshake shack don’t have to stay in the past. They’ll always look fresh and fun in a home kitchen. Pair a pale blue retro fridge with classic diner-inspired decor, contemporary furnishings or a blend of both to bring your own unique retro twist to life.
When you’re ahead of the curve
While stainless steel appliances have been the top of the trends for quite some time, some experts are predicting that coloured-metallic ‘black stainless steel’ will be the next big thing. This finish is almost as neutral as the classic silvery stainless, but tinted to a soft charcoal black for more drama and better smudge-proofing. If you have a busy family kitchen, or simply like to be ahead of the curve on trends, black stainless might be just the right option for you.
While stainless steel appliances have been the top of the trends for quite some time, some experts are predicting that coloured-metallic ‘black stainless steel’ will be the next big thing. This finish is almost as neutral as the classic silvery stainless, but tinted to a soft charcoal black for more drama and better smudge-proofing. If you have a busy family kitchen, or simply like to be ahead of the curve on trends, black stainless might be just the right option for you.
When your kitchen needs something special
If you have classic white cabinets, demure hardware, subtle sophisticated tiles and concealed lighting, you may have everything you need – except a little oomph. A fiery red oven or a cheerful blue fridge can add a lot of pizazz to an otherwise neutral kitchen.
To keep it classic, try an Italian kitchen-inspired red oven in a bold firetruck-approved shade. Or for something cooler, a classic navy will go far. While trends may change, this look will stand the test of time – and it’ll always be a great conversation starter.
If you have classic white cabinets, demure hardware, subtle sophisticated tiles and concealed lighting, you may have everything you need – except a little oomph. A fiery red oven or a cheerful blue fridge can add a lot of pizazz to an otherwise neutral kitchen.
To keep it classic, try an Italian kitchen-inspired red oven in a bold firetruck-approved shade. Or for something cooler, a classic navy will go far. While trends may change, this look will stand the test of time – and it’ll always be a great conversation starter.
Your turn
What’s your favourite finish for kitchen appliances? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Want more on kitchens? This article has you covered – A Good Fit: 10 Questions to Ask a Potential Kitchen Designer
What’s your favourite finish for kitchen appliances? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Want more on kitchens? This article has you covered – A Good Fit: 10 Questions to Ask a Potential Kitchen Designer
Love it or leave it, stainless steel is a popular appliance finish – and for many good reasons. As a metal in a mid-tone between light and dark, stainless steel is a neutral safe bet that will suit any colour palette. Although it’s not generally a high-end option, mainstream stainless steel can with a heftier price tag than some other finishes. Whether or not the splurge is worthwhile is a matter of your personal budget and priorities.
Although it’s hard to go wrong with this option, here are a few situations where stainless steel makes an especially strong choice.
Renovating your cooking space? Find a kitchen designer near you and browse images of their projects